MTN's controversial dominance in the battle for Nigeria's airwaves

Spectrum. 

One of Nigeria’s lesser-known natural resources. But unlike oil, every country in the world can boast of having it. This valuable, yet invisible resource is highly sought after by mobile telecommunication companies (telcos), both big and small. 

Why? 

Well, your mobile phone works similarly to the internals of your car stereo or a walkie-talkie. If you want to listen to a specific channel on the stereo, you tune the radio to that particular frequency - be it 99.1 FM or 94.7 FM. 

Same goes for your mobile phone which has to be tuned to the same frequency as the nearest cell tower, to transmit or receive data and voice communication wirelessly.

There is a global body called the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which specifies what frequencies (or spectrum) can be used for wireless activities from mobile telecommunication to radio broadcasting or aeroplane radio navigation, etc.

Frequencies allowed for each